Pete Fairbanks given rare start by Marlins to allow him to get home for child’s birth

By Canadian Press on April 5, 2026.

NEW YORK (AP) — Pete Fairbanks was given a rare start by the Miami Marlins on Sunday to allow the pitcher to get home for the birth of his child.

Miami said Fairbanks’ wife was set to have labor induced on Monday morning and the team planned to put him on paternity leave.

Around the scheduled start time of a game being delayed by rain, the Marlins said Fairbanks will start instead of Chris Paddack.

A 32-year-old right-hander, Fairbanks last pitched on Tuesday. His previous start was on Sept. 21, 2020, when he pitched a 1 2/3 innings for Tampa Bay at the New York Mets.

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/mlb

The Associated Press